Mayor Billy Portman (right) administers the oath of office to Red Bank Police Chief Michael Frazee while Frazee’s son Michael holds the Bible. (Photo by Brian Donohue. Click to enlarge.)
By BRIAN DONOHUE
Michael Frazee, 28-year veteran of the Red Bank Police Department who rose from dispatcher and drew praise while leading the department through recent turmoil, was officially sworn in as chief of police Friday.
Standing next to his wife Stacy and sons, Michael and Ryan, while his father Micheal Sr. looked on, Frazee, 52, took the oath of office under cloudless skies before several hundred friends, family, fellow police officers and officials gathered on the plaza outside Borough Hall.
“The only thing that could make this day better was if mom was here,” he said growing emotional at the reference to his late mother.
In a seven-minute address after taking the oath of office, Frazee described a vision of a “safer and more connected community.”
“My goal is to foster an environment of trust, transparency and collaboration while maintaining peace and enforcing the law,” he said. “Respect between the police and the community must be of equal value and not just one sided.”
Chief Mike Frazee addresses the crowd at his swearing-in ceremony. (photo by Brian Donohue)
Frazee succeeds Chief Darren McConnell, who was suspended by the borough last year and resigned last month in the wake of an investigation by the state attorney general’s office which charged him with ethics violations.
Borough Manager Jim Gant credited Frazee with providing a steady hand and clear vision “at a time when the police department needed sound leadership the most.”
“He has been a champion for improving morale among his officers and building stronger relationships between the department and the community,” Gant said.
Frazee grew up on North Bridge Avenue, where his father still lives. He graduated from Red Bank Regional High School in 1991 and studied criminal justice at Brookdale Community College. His career in public service began when he joined the Red Bank volunteer Fire Department’s Union Hose Fire Company in 1992.
A yearbook photo showing Mike Frazee (front row fourth from left) and fellow members of the 1990 Red Bank Regional High School boys basketball team. ( Click to enlarge.)
In 1994, Frazee joined the Red Bank Police Department as a dispatcher, and in 1996, graduated from New Jersey State Police Academy and became a patrolman.
Over the years, he served in nearly every capacity within the department. He was promoted to sergeant in 2006, supervising both the patrol and criminal investigative divisions. Gant credited him with playing a crucial role in the Anti-Crime Unit, which borough officials said helped reduce violent crime, particularly street robberies, by 75%.
By 2014, he had risen to lieutenant and became a watch commander. In 2017, Frazee was promoted to captain, initially overseeing the Patrol Division before transitioning to the Special Operations Division.
He assumed the reins of the department in August 2023 as McConnell’s planned retirement became stalled by the state investigation and he was eventually placed on leave. Leading the department with the rank of Captain, for 14 months, Frazee did not move into the Chief’s office, working out of his old office in the detective bureau. Typical of his down-to-earth style, he described himself as “just filling shoes.”
Red Bank Police Chief Mike Frazee hugs his father, Michael Sr. following his swearing-in ceremony. (Photo by Brian Donohue)
The widespread praise heaped upon him by speakers at Thursday’s ceremony belied that humility.
“It’s hard to get under this guy’s skin,” Gant said in his opening address. “Seriously, he doesn’t crack.” Remarking on the cloudless weather, Assemblywoman Luanne Peterpaul joked the sky was “as unblemished as his record.”
In his address, Frazee turned to the rank and file officers standing in a group just outside the Police Department’s front door, saying, “I have your backs and I will do everything in my power to keep you safe.”
He vowed the same for the community.
“I promise to lead with integrity, compassion, and a steadfast commitment to justice,” he said. “Together we can create a community where everyone feels safe, valued and respected. I look forward to working with each of you to make this happen.”
redbankgreen editor Brian Donohue may be reached via email at [email protected] or by calling or texting 848-331-8331 or yelling his name loudly as he walks by. Do you value the news coverage provided by redbankgreen? Please become a financial supporter if you haven’t already. Click here to set your own level of monthly or annual contribution.
